Shree Saini (born January 6, 1996) is an American model and beauty pageant titleholder. She represented the United States at Miss World 2022, reaching first runner-up and winning the Beauty with a Purpose National Ambassadorship. Saini is the first Asian woman to represent the United States at Miss World.
Early life and education
Shree Saini was born on January 6, 1996, in Punjab, India,[1][2] and has lived in the United States since age 5.[3][4] She first dreamed of competing for the Miss World title at the age of 5.[5] For the first 12 years of her life, while growing up in Moses Lake, Washington,[6] Saini's heartbeat had an average of just 20 beats per minute.[7] Doctors told her she could never dance again but she persisted, and continued training in ballet.[8][9]
Later in life[when?], Saini was involved in a major car crash in Moses Lake that resulted in her suffering from significant facial burns.[10][11] Saini was advised that her recovery would take a year, but she returned to her classes after just two weeks.[10]
Saini attended the University of Washington.[12] She is a trained ballerina, and has been accepted to train at the Joffrey Ballet.[13]
Pageantry
Saini, who was listed as both a resident of Seattle and Ellensburg, Washington, in 2020,[10][14][6] was the 2020 Miss Washington World and America's Beauty with a Purpose National Ambassador,[15][16] which is a preliminary competition to Miss World America. In October 2019, Saini collapsed at the Miss World America preliminary.[3]
In 2020, Saini was awarded the World Peace Messenger award from Passion Vista Magazine.[17] On October 2, 2021, Shree Saini was appointed Miss World America 2021,[16] and crowned by Diana Hayden, Miss World 1997. She is the first Indian-American and Asian-American woman to hold the Miss World America title.[5][18] Shree Saini represented the United States of America at Miss World 2021 in Puerto Rico.[19] In February 2022, the Washington state legislature passed a resolution recognizing Saini's philanthropic achievements and wishing her success at Miss World.[20]
Miss World 2021
Saini was the first runner up at Miss World 2021, with Karolina Bielawska of Poland the winner.[15] She was also chosen as the 2021 Beauty with a Purpose Ambassador to travel with Bielawska during her reign.[21]
